Posts tagged ‘wheat-free’

One of the hardest things for me is coming up with lunches that are simple, fast, kid pleasers. Simple and fast rarely goes along with gluten free. Not only that but the words cheap or inexpensive are almost a joke. But I’ve got no choice. With three boys and myself all eating gluten free, budget wise is a must!

Here is one of our simple meals using regular groceries (not specialty) that also saves precious time during the middle of our school day.

It doesn’t seem that there should be a science to making rice cake pizza’s but by trial and error I have come up with some helpful tips.

One – NEVER EVER put the sauce directly on the rice cake. Unless of course you like soggy food. Experience has taught me that the sauce can melt a hole right throught the middle and cause quite an interesting anomoly. Donut shaped pizza!

Two – Don’t ever let the boys make their own pizza rice cakes using cheese sticks! If you haven’t ever tried to microwave a cheese stick I am here to tell you, do not attempt!

Three – Well, I guess there isn’t a three. So here is a lovely picture of one of the Thinglets’ favorite lunch meals. Enjoy!

Most days I just need a no brainer when it comes to feeding myself. The Thinglet’s “go to” power meal is rice cakes and peanut butter. How is it that kids can eat PB&J until it comes out their ears and not get sick of it?

When you need something decent and have only about 10 minutes to prepare you can cook this easy, naturally gluten, milk, nut, egg and soy free meal in a snap. Even I can do it!

Steam some brown rice. Costco has a package of precooked organic brown rice that has a sweet (not earthy and dry) flavor. It is a little spendy for rice but a great quick lunch especially if you need something gluten free to take to work.

Cut up one large chicken breast, toss in balsalmic vinagrette (always double check ingredients with dressings) and cook in a skillet over medium high heat until done. Serve with the rice and a bit of cilantro. Wa-la!

For an on the go meal, refrigerate or freeze the bite size chicken in meal portions and grab the Costco rice bowls to go.

My thinglets love this snack. With Chex now gluten free, it ‘s great to whip up when the sweet tooth hits. I snuck a batch last night after the thinglets went to bed so I didn’t have to share! Evil MOM😉

They cook up just like regular cookies and tricked even my “cookie connoisseur” dad who does not eat allergen free.

The boys had a blast decorating loads and loads of sugar cookies. Too bad I can’t mail them to everyone but surely they will all be eaten before the week is out. I might have to make them again when the inlaws come.

My husband remarked while eating one of these, “The only thing wrong is they are better than the original!” Haha!

The only thing I did differently is leave the cookies to fluff up instead of squashing them flat so they would be more authentic. I just couldn’t help it. They were such an incredible texture, chewy and delicious. But if you desire you can make the cookies thin and let them sit on the counter to dry slightly for a perfect oreo replica.

My sister found this blog a couple years ago before I had internet and passed along the recipe. Once I got into the 20th century I stopped over at Only Sometimes Clever and met Karen Joy.

The cookies are incredible but the fellowship and discussions that take place at OSC have me hooked.

The recipe originated in the cookbook Special Diets for Special Kids II but I’ve pulled to wool over the eyes on my own father who does not need a “special diet”. He is a self proclaimed gluten free sleuth. If you try to trick him he KNOWS! Well, usually. In a side by side test with two plates of cookies readily available in identical cut outs and decorations, Dad picked these over and over and over!

Food Fun

Gluten Free Favorites

Sourdough Update

Many of you have been checking back for results on my sourdough creation. At the moment it is still a science experiment, but a happy, bubbly experiment. Never fear, recipes will be here! I did make a beautiful, moist and delicious loaf of sourdough using yeast and a myriad of other ingredients but I'm still trying to create something more user friendly. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a starter on the counter that you could add 4 things to and have a loaf of bread by dinner? Mmmm!
Attempt #1 - rose well but resulted in a dense chewy blob
Attempt #2 - rose ok but was thin and lifeless then fell and another dense (not so chewy) blob
Attempt #3 - to the dogs!
Attempt #4 - A sourdough pancake success see post under what's for breakfast gluten-free goof?
Ongoing - I've tried several more times and am going to try a completely different approach on the bread starting this week. (Mar 18). My sourdough is still happy on my counter and it makes great pancakes but it's a lot of work just for pancakes. Keep checking!
April Update:
She is still kickin and I'm still workin on a yeast free, gluten free sourdough loaf!
May Update:
My sourdough "pet" has been dried and retired until next baking season. I've traded her in for a hotter model, the BBQ! :)